Cooks, Restaurant salary in Columbus, OH
Cooks, Restaurant in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median of $36,590 a year ($17.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,910 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $35,540. There are 7.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Columbus, OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,960 | $13.92 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| 75th percentile | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| Average (mean) | $36,910 | $17.75 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,049.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,524.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,407.31 |
| Weekly | $703.65 |
| Hourly | $17.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $37,060 | 8,190 |
| Akron, OH | $36,030 | 2,820 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $35,700 | 2,960 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,600 | 1,570 |
| Toledo, OH | $35,560 | 2,920 |
| Sandusky, OH | $35,250 | 910 |
| Springfield, OH | $34,490 | 320 |
| Lima, OH | $34,200 | 380 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $32,150 | 1,600 |
| Mansfield, OH | $31,300 | 480 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,030 | 320 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,710 | 580 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 1,090 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,930 | $17.75 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $25,290 | $12.16 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,490 | $18.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Bartender | $37,000 | $17.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,650 | $13.29 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,000 | $14.42 |
| Dishwasher | $33,690 | $16.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,250 | $15.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,830 | $28.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Columbus, OH?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Columbus, OH metro area is $36,590 a year, or $17.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Columbus, OH?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Columbus, OH metro area earn at least $45,910 a year. The top 25% earn $38,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Columbus, OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,960 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Columbus, OH?
About 8,600 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Columbus, OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.